10/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2024 14:51
The Honorable Neera Tanden
Director
Domestic Policy Council
1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20504
The Honorable Shalanda Young
Director
Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Director Tanden and Director Young:
Public schools are a beacon of immediate relief and stability for children and youth experiencing homelessness, especially when tragedy strikes. As the full scope from Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and related natural disasters becomes clear, we urge the administration to support dedicated funding for the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in any disaster supplemental request of Congress.
Recent natural disasters will further the ongoing crisis of student homelessness, which rose by 14% last year. The public school system is the most logical and practical entity to identify students experiencing homelessness, ensure they are enrolled in school, and support them during an intensely traumatic period. Congress recognized this role by establishing and funding the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, whose personnel are on the frontlines of disaster response.
We respectfully request that the administration include the following in its disaster supplemental requests:
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
AASA, The School Superintendents Association
Afterschool Alliance
All4ED
Association of School Business Officials International
Council of Administrators of Special Education
Council of Chief State School Officers
Education Reform Now
Learning Policy Institute
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of School Psychologists
National Conference of State Legislatures
National School Boards Association
SchoolHouse Connection
The Education Trust